THE NEWLY appointed Deputy Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Mr. Mensah Thompson, has emphasized that investor protection and market development will be the pillars of the Commission’s new vision under the new leadership.
Mr. Thompson expressed concern about the current overexposure of Ghana’s capital market to government securities. He revealed that nearly 60% of the country’s over GHS 60 billion in pension funds are invested in various Government of Ghana (GoG) instruments, a situation he describes as a significant risk and a barrier to economic growth.
He noted that fund managers often resort to GoG instruments due to the lack of alternative investment portfolios. However, the lessons from the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP) have underscored the urgent need for market diversification.
To address this, the SEC is working with market operators and innovators to develop frameworks for new investment products that can provide safer and more diversified options for investors.
Mr. Thompson also highlighted the importance of attracting foreign investment and strengthening international partnerships to support market growth. In recent weeks, the SEC has engaged with development partners and diplomatic missions in Accra to promote this agenda.
He expressed gratitude to the Japanese Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Hiroshi Yoshimoto, for his warm reception during a recent meeting, noting that Ghana’s strong bilateral ties with Japan could help drive the Commission’s market development goals.
Source: Nationaltymes.com
